Puck Daddy

Mike Babcock to coach Team Canada, because of that gold medal and stuff

In a move that should surprise exactly no one, Hockey Canada is once again turning to the best coach in the National Hockey League to lead Team Canada in Sochi.

Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN that Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings is back as Team Canada head coach, after leading a scrappy group of blue-collar Canadians to the gold medal in 2010 against a star-laden juggernaut from the United States.

LeBrun is also reporting that St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock and former Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff will return as associate coaches. The staff will be rounded out by Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien.

Boy, what are the Red Wings, Blues and Bruins going to do when their coaches leave for Sochi in 2014 and all the players are back in the NHL because oh just announce NHL participation already, will you please?

Babcock and staff might have a challenge ahead of them, given the goaltending conundrum for Team Canada. But the good news is that Babcock is used to winning with average goaltending, given Jimmy Howard.

Just jokes! Jimmy Howard’s great if you want a poor man’s Corey Crawford.